14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is reportedly gearing up to announce a jailbreak-proof iOS 5 that packs enhanced notifications, a cool widget system, Expose-style multitasking, new mapping and voice services, and a mechanism that updates the software over the air.
Reports indicate there’s a high degree of probability that Apple will use WWDC 2011 to introduce by far the biggest revamp of iOS to date.
All iOS 5 rumors are now being crammed into one likely scenario that Apple will beef up its mobile OS with everything it needs to make people lose interest in jailbreaking, whilst developing a new iPhone that’s also said to be a tough nut to hack.
One of the major enhancements is said to be a revamped iOS notification and all new widget system. Many have created concepts to try and guess what these may look like, and we’re holding our breath to see what Apple has come up with.
Rumors of Expose-style iOS multitasking may also materialize, and Nuance technology will be fully baked into iOS 5, according to sources talking to Techcrunch.
Others are telling 9to5Google that iOS 5 will not bring an Apple-developed maps service, but the Mac maker is working hard to improve the existing iOS Maps application with assets from the acquisition of Placebase and Poly9.
iOS 5 will be updatable over the air, reports also indicate. Currently, iOS users can only update their firmware by tethering their device to a computer running iTunes.
Finally, Apple is reportedly poised to introduce new iPhone hardware that is harder to jailbreak.
Indeed, if the iPad 2 is any indication, iPhone 5 will boast similar hardware that will be just as hard to hack.
Readers should keep in mind that this report is but a mere rumor roundup, nothing more, nothing less. However, if any of these features are to be confirmed, it’s high time that Apple does so, if it wants to keep competition playing catch with the iPhone.